Line coupling



July 15, 1924. w 1,501,138

H. M. ROUNDS LINE COUPLING- Filed Oct. 5, 19);?-

Patented July 15, 1924.

STES- HORACE M. ROUN'DS, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

LINE COUPLING.

Application filed October 5, 1923. Serial No. 666,868.

. To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HORACE M. RoUNDs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LineCouplings, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in means for detachablyconnecting or coupling together parts of lines (sky-lines, highleads andthe like) an instance of the use of such lines is in lumberingoperations. An object of this invention is to provide a linecouplingwhich will prove simple in construction, comparatively cheap inmanufacture, susceptible of ready installation, low in first cost and incost of repairs and renewal of parts, and eflicient and durable inoperation and use.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invent-ion and thebest mode now known to me of applying that principle,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the line-coup Figure 2 is a central,vertical section through the line-coupling;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-8, of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4:, of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is asectional View that illustrates the coupling (or uncoupling) of thedevice.

The line a, which may be a wire-rope, is enlarged at one of its ends Z),and this distortion or deformation of the line-end b may be accomplishedafter the manner disclosed by United States Patent No. 802,537. Theenlarged rope-end b is capped and held by a ferrule or rope-socket 0which is approximately frusto-conical in shape and the larger (or upper)end of which is formed with a ringlike, outwardly-extending flange c.The rope-socket or ferrule 0 is carried by a cooperating cup-shapedcoupling-member d, which is called by me a container or basket. Theinterior lateral wall e of the latter is so formed that the outerlateral wallc of the head or ferrule 0 bears thereagainst throughout theextent of the wall e and with a sliding or rubbing fit within the same.flange 0' rests and has a bearing upon the rim d of the basket d and itfollows, therefore, that the head or socket-member 0 is free toturnfreely or swivel within the The basket all. As shown in the drawings,the basket 0? is formed with an inwardly-extend.- ing flange d at itsbottom, upon which bears the smaller (or lower) end o of the ferrule 0;but this flange-d" may be dispensed with, if found desirable. Thelateral wall of the basket cl is formed with a lengthwise. (ordepthwise). extending slot 7 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) that is of such sizethat the body a of the line may be passed freely therethrough. Extendingor projecting sidewise from the upper portion of the basket (Z is a pairof lugs or trunnions 9, upon which are mounted, free to rock, theapertured ends 7 or cars it of the bail h, to which-is suitably attachedthe end of the line i. The bail h is shaped (that is, its bow or arch islow) so that, when tension is put on the coupled lines a, 2', and theyare drawn taut, (see Fig. 3), the bail h effectually locks the head 0against jumping out of the basket all, should tension on the line a besuddenly relieved, causing an abrupt slackening of that line. However,for use in situations and under conditions where nosuch springingupwardly of the socket-member 0 need be guarded against, the handle ofthe basket may be fixed or stiff and rigid, with a higher arch to permitthe removal of the socketmember 0, when desired. As is illustrated inFig. 5, the bail h may be thrown downwardly towards the basket 61?, whenthe workman wishes to uncouple (or to couple) the lines a, 2', byraising (or lowering) the head 0 out U of (or into) the basket 03 andpassing the line a outwardly (or inwardly) through the slot 7. As isclearly shown in Fig. 1, this slot f is closed partially by the wall 0of the head 0, when the latter is assembled in its basket d.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have shown and described thepreferred form of this invention. However, I desire it to be distinctlyunderstood that I fully realize that changes may be made in thestructure herein disclosed; and I intend to include within the scope ofthe claims that follow hereinafter all modifications of the preferredform of this invention that do not depart substantially from the spiritthereof.

I am aware of United States Patent No. 917 ,7 38, granted Andrew OpsalApril sixth, 1909, whereby there is disclosed no bail for preventing thehead or ferrule, with which the end of the line is provided, fromjumping out of its container.

I claim:

1. A: line-coupling including as cup-shaped container the lateral Wallof Which isformed. with a depthwise-exte-nding slot. that is of suchshapeand size as to permit the passage of the body of a line;aline-end-capping: fer= rule which is shaped to bear upon and turnfreely in the containerand the lateral Wall of which closes the slottherein at least partially and which is capable" of ready inser tiontherein and ready removal therefrom, together with the line, at the willof the operator, topermit' the free coupling and uncoupling oftheferrule with and from its container, theline passing-through the slot inthe'latter; and a container-hail the arch of which overlies the mouththereofand; to which the other line-end is fastened.

2i line-coupling"including a cup-shaped container thelat'erali wall ofwhich is formed with a depthwise-extendingslot that is of suclrshape andsize asto permit the passageof the body of a line; a line-endmappingferrule whichis shaped to bear upon and turn freely in the cont ainerand which is capable of ready insertion therein and! ready removaltherefrom, together with the line, at the will of. the operator, topermit the free coupling and uncoupling of the ferrule with and from itscontainer, the line passing through the slot inv the latter; and acontainer-bail to which the other line-end is fastened and which: ismounted:- free to swing on the container, said bail having a low arch bywhich the ferrule is prevented from-becoming uncoupled; from itscontainer accidentally while the lines are drawn taut in action and bythe swinging back of which the mouth of the container may be uncoveredto permit the removalof' the ferrule therefrompurposefully;

Signed at the city of arr-en, in the county of WVarren and State ofPennsyl-- Vania, this third day of October, 1923, inthe presence of'thetwoundersigned Witnesses.

HORACE M. ROUNDS Witnesses:

H. WV. @oNAnRo, E. T. JOHNSON-

